During Your Studies: The Honest Reality
Dutch academic culture, part-time work rules, the mental health statistics nobody talks about, and what daily life as an international student in the Netherlands actually looks and feels like.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Dutch Academic Culture
Dutch universities are interactive, debate-oriented and egalitarian. Professors expect you to challenge ideas and defend positions. Here is what makes it different.
Dutch grading: the 1–10 scale
Grades above 8 are rare, and a 10 is virtually unheard of. Recalibrate your expectations.
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 9–10 | Exceptional (rare) |
| 8 | Excellent |
| 7–7.5 | Good (most common) |
| 6–6.5 | Sufficient |
| 5.5 | Passing mark |
Interactive and debate-oriented teaching
Call professors by their first name. Disagreeing is intellectual engagement, not disrespect.
Small groups (10–15) work on real-world problems. Self-directed, collaborative and demanding. Pioneered at Maastricht University.
Frequent 3–6 person projects. Dutch students are direct about contribution — expect honest feedback.
Building a social life
The #1 way to build social connections: study associations, sports clubs, ESN chapters. This is how Dutch social life works.
Everyone speaks English, but A1/A2 Dutch opens social doors. Free courses at most universities.
Excellent facilities for €100–200 a year. Team sports create regular, low-pressure social contact.
Part-time work rules
No restrictions, unlimited hours and no work permit needed. Working 56+ hours a month unlocks DUO student finance (a basic grant plus a supplementary grant of up to €491.08 a month in 2026) and free public transport.
A maximum of 16 hours a week (full-time in June–August only). Your employer needs a TWV permit from UWV, which can take up to 5 weeks (there is no government fee). Many employers refuse for part-time roles.
Self-employment alternative: register as a ZZP/freelancer at the KvK — no TWV needed. It works for tutoring, design and translation, but you handle your own taxes.
Part-Time Work Calculator
Adjust hours and hourly rate to see your projected earnings and whether you trigger the public insurance requirement.
1h16h (non-EU max)40h
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Non-EU students can only work 16 hours a week during the academic year. EU students have no limit.
Mental Health: The Real Numbers
The mental health situation among international students in the Netherlands is serious. These numbers come from Dutch government research and university surveys.
75% lack meaningful Dutch peer contact, 70% experience loneliness, 59% report mental health struggles, and 17% of international students drop out — versus 6% of Dutch students.
Every Dutch university has free student psychologist sessions. Nightline Netherlands and 113 Suicide Prevention (0900-0113, English available) offer immediate support. Do not wait until crisis — talk to your study advisor early.
Culture Shock
The things that hit hardest, explained honestly so you can prepare.
Dutch directness
“This paper is poorly argued.” “That’s a bad idea.” “You’re being too loud.” What Dutch people consider honest and efficient, others experience as blunt or rude. It is not personal — it is cultural. But knowing that intellectually does not always stop it from stinging.
Weather and seasonal depression
About 1,600 hours of sunshine a year (versus 2,500–3,000 in Southern Europe and South Asia). The sun sets at 4:30 PM in December, and it rains on roughly 130 days a year. Many students say the first winter is harder than the academics. Dutch doctors recommend vitamin D supplements from October to March.
The loneliness problem
Dutch people are friendly but notoriously hard to befriend; they have tight social circles from high school. 75% of internationals report lacking meaningful Dutch peer contact. Proactive effort is essential: join associations, take Dutch classes and attend regular group activities.
Food and daily-life adjustments
Lunch is bread with cheese. Dinner is early (6–7 PM). Shops close at 6 PM on weekdays (except Thursday koopavond). Everything is cashless — some shops do not accept cash at all. Download Buienradar (rain radar), get a good rain jacket (not an umbrella — the wind destroys them) and use Too Good To Go for cheap food bags.
After Graduation Options
Three key mechanisms for staying in the Netherlands.
Stay one year after graduation to find work, with no restrictions and no TWV needed. Apply within 3 years of graduating. To move to a work permit you need a job meeting the highly skilled migrant salary threshold — during or after the zoekjaar the reduced threshold applies (€3,122 gross a month in 2026, excluding holiday pay).
30% of gross salary is paid tax-free; from 1 January 2027 the maximum drops to 27% (the earlier plan to phase down to 20% and 10% was scrapped). On a €50,000 salary it saves roughly €5,000–7,000 a year in taxes. You must have lived 150+ km from the Dutch border for 16 of the 24 months before employment.
A renewable residence permit tied to your employer. 2026 salary thresholds: €4,357 gross a month under 30, €5,942 at 30+ (excluding holiday pay), or €3,122 for recent graduates. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency or Dutch citizenship.
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